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I just keep my greeting in the Jim Rockford fashion. My incoming greeting: "This is ____. At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you." Who cares about "convenience"? I usually just ask the person I'm calling, "Can you give me a call at (number), thanks." and end my call.
I think this is an example of the deterioration of the English language. People don't even realize what they are saying half the time. And don't recognize improper usage, because I think that's what it is. They are taking something they've heard a million times and assuming that it makes sense to fold it in to their outgoing message because they hear it so often. Look at all the punctuation and spelling misuse that has crept into the lexicon.
So I guess what I'm saying is that referring to "your earliest convenience" is a polite thing to say, while referring to "my earliest convenience" comes off as very impolite.
Do you agree or disagree? Again, this is in a professional setting, not with family & friends.
How would I possibly know when it's your earliest convenience if you are calling me? I'll call back when it's my earliest convenience, because I could be busy, just got back from a meeting, am on another line in a teleconference, etc.
Why do you get so uptight about what other people do? Personally, Celexa works for me, in letting things roll off my back.
How would I possibly know when it's your earliest convenience if you are calling me?
I meant that it's fine to ask someone else "please call me back at your earliest convenience" when you leave THEM a message. But it's not fine to have your own voice mail say "I'll call you back at my earliest convenience."
No, like I said. I wasn't looking for it, and I'm not that type of person who is in search of being offended like so many seem to be.
It just made me "bristle" like I said earlier. So I self-examined, and realized that my perception was that it was rude. Not overtly, over-the-top rude. But just slightly, almost subliminally rude.
No, like I said. I wasn't looking for it, and I'm not that type of person who is in search of being offended like so many seem to be.
It just made me "bristle" like I said earlier. So I self-examined, and realized that my perception was that it was rude. Not overtly, over-the-top rude. But just slightly, almost subliminally rude.
I meant that it's fine to ask someone else "please call me back at your earliest convenience" when you leave THEM a message. But it's not fine to have your own voice mail say "I'll call you back at my earliest convenience."
But it's the truth. I call you back when I have time.
But lately I've noticed that some people, on their own outgoing voice mail message/greeting say "Please leave a message and I'll call you back at my earliest convenience." To me, that sounds self-important and haughty.
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Originally Posted by fleetiebelle
It is a bit nitpicky but I agree. "Please call me back at your earliest convenience" is polite, like "don't go to any trouble." "My earliest convenience" does seem to imply "I'm not going to any trouble for you" which isn't usually the impression you want to give a business contact.
I agree.
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but I agree. "Please call me back at your earliest convenience" is polite, like "don't go to any trouble." "My earliest convenience" does seem to imply "I'm not going to any trouble for you" which isn't usually the impression you want to give a business contact.
